Historic Black Cemetery Bankrupt, Workers Laid Off

Burr Oak’s remaining eight workers have been laid off since Friday when the cemetery’s receiver learned in court he couldn’t make payroll, the SouthtownStar learned today.

Roman Szabelski, the appointed receiver charged with running the beleaguered historic cemetery in Alsip, said none of the money he’s requested from a Cook County judge to operate the cemetery has been released. The cemetery’s assets all have been frozen in the wake of a grave-reselling scandal in which four employees are charged with multiple felonies, including dismembering human remains.

Two weeks ago, when Szabelski also couldn’t pay workers, he said the cemetery’s parent company, Perpetua Inc., fronted the cash. This time, they did not, he said.